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| Blue iris on May 4, 2004. |
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| First rose blooms! |
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| Rhodie in front yard, May 7, 2004. |
| May 7, 2004 Yesterday, I went to Robert's Nursery and purchased alyssum--having given up on my seeds. I'm very pleased, because I got a nice variety: some white, some Easter Bonnet Deep Pink, some Wonderland Deep Purple, and another color that was identified as Easter Bonnet, but which is darker fuchsia (and I think is Royal Carpet). I purchased 6 flats (of 6 tiny plants apiece) for $1.99 each. I also purchased some lavender. I'd been looking for Spanish lavender, but hadn't been able to find any, so I settled for Lavendula Intermedia. It has a nice, bushy look and a good scent. I purchased 3 for $1.99 a piece. In addition, I splurged on two new perennials: Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) and Helensflower (Helenium). The first is almost mum-like with a yellow flower, supposed to bloom all summer until first frost; the second I'm told is similar, but is more daisy-like with both orange and yellow on the petals. In addition, I think I've identified my silver plants in the back yard as Dusty Miller. Today, I took the some of the seeds Gardener's Choice sent me (for free) and experimented with them. I'm trying to germinate them before I stick them in the ground. I did the following: 1. Marked three ziplock bags with the name of the seeds (Forget me nots, Asters, and poppies). 2. Wet a coffee filter, then squeezed it out so that it wasn't dripping, just damp. 3. Placed the filter flat on the counter and put seeds in one quarter of it. Then I folded the filter in half, and in half again. 4. Placed the filter in the ziplock bag, blowing a little air in it, so that it's just slightly puffed up, not flat. 5. Placed in a warm place to germinate. (I understand that you can also place them in a piece of Tupperware in the fridge.) I'm supposed to check the baggies every few days and remoisten as needed. They are not to go a week without opening them for fresh air. Someone suggested using a mister with 1:20 hydrogen perodixe:water to help prevent mold. Chamomile tea is also said to do the trick. I got these instructions off posts at GardenWeb. |